Method of wrapping and staying boxes



J. S. STOKES METHOD OF WRAPPING AND STAYING BOXES- Sept. 14 1926.

#G fiz I VATTORINEYQV IINIY/ENTOR: Q/ dt x Q sk u .Eiled Jan. 14. 1926 Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. JOHN S. STOKES. OF HUNTINGDON VALLEY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO STOKES AND SMITH COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD WRAPPING AND STAYING BOXES.

Application filed January 14, 1926. Serial No. 81,175.

My invention relates to the art of applying to cartons, containers, and particularly to boxes, and especially to unstayed boxes, individual wrap ers provided with reinforcing or staying e ements or tabs.

In accordance with my invent-ion, there is applied to an individual separately prepared wrapper a coat-of adhesive, as glue or equivalent, and before the adhesive dries 'or sets there are applied to the coated side of the wrapper, reinforcing elements or tabs. to whose exposed surfaces there is then applied adhesive, and before the adhesive coatings upon the wrapper and tabsfldry or set, the tabbed wrapper is applied to a carton, container or box, and especially to an unstayed box blank-for simultaneously staying and wrapping it.

Further in accordance with my invention, the box-engaging surfaces of the tabs may be coated with adhesive and then applied to the coated side of the wrapper, and particularly at the regions of union of the wrapper sections and turn-in flaps adapted subsequently to engage, respectively, with two box walls meeting ina corner, and before the adhesive coatings on the tabs and wrapper dry or set, the wrapper is applied to a box or the like, and especially to an unstayed box blank for simultaneously wrap ping and staying the box blank.

Further in accordance with my invention, tabs may be adhesively applied to an uncoated individual wrapper, and the coating of adhesive is then applied to the wrapper and the box-engaging faces of the tabs, and before drying or setting of the adhesive which holds the tabs to the wrapper and of the adhesive"applied to the wrapper and box-engaging-"faces of the tabs, the wrapper is applied to a box or the like, and especially to an unstayed box blank for simultaneously wrapping and staying the box blank.

My invention resides in a method of producing or preparing an individual tabbed wrapper and in a method of applying to a box..,or the like, or to an unstayed box blank, a wrapper so produced or prepared, as hereinafter described and claimed.

For an illustration of some of the various modes of practicing my invention, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which: r

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stack of uncoated wrappersv Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a wrapper 1n a later stage in which it is coated with adhesive.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a coated Wrapper in a later stage in whichthere are applied thereto tabs whose box-engaging faces areuncoated.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a coated and tabbed wrapper in a later stage in which the box-engaging surfaces-of the tabs are coated.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the tabbed wrapper in register with an unstayed box blank, the form block structure of a wrapping machine being indicated in dotted mes.

Figs. 6' to 10, inclusive, represent, respectively, in perspective, the successive stages of the box-wrapping and staying operation.

Fig. .11 is a perspective view of an uncoated wrapper. I Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the uncoated wrapper in a later stage in which tabs are applied to the wrapper.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the tabbed wrapper in a later stage in which the boxengaging surfaces of the wrapper and tabs are coated.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a modified form of tabbed wrapper.

Heretofore a method commonly practiced has involved the use of tabbed wrappers of the general character illustrated in my prior Letters Patent No. 845,205, involving the gluing of reinforcing strips or tabs to an uncoated wrapper, by any suitable mechanism, such, for example, as that of the character disclosed in prior Letters Patent to Reifsnyder et al. No. 1,060,026 or to Nitsch et al. No. 1,451,782. The adhesive holding the tabs to the wrapper is allowed to dry or set, and the tabbed wrappers are stored, as in stacks, until later used in the boxwrapping operation when each tabbed blank and the exposed faces of the tabs are coated with adhesive, as in an automatic gluing or adhesiveapplying machine, and thereupon applied to the box or box blank, as in a wrapping machine of the character disclosed in Letters Patent to Smith No. 691,329 or 778,805 or to Federwitz et al. 1,541,036.

The drying or setting of the adhesive which holds the tabs to the 'uncoated blank before application of adhesive to the boxengaging faces of the wrappers and tabs causes it locally to warp or curl" at and adjacent the tabs, and to become stiff and inflexible, with the result that tabbed blanks f of this character are with difliculty handled by a gluing machine because of the double thickness of the tabbed portion of the wrapper and limitation of the number of tabbed wrappers that may be stacked on the feed table of the gluing machine, and generally requiring special mechanism for feeding the tabbed wrappers from a stack; and the tabs are with difficulty folded around the corners of the boxes or box blanks. Furthermore, unless very thin, and therefore weak, tabs are used, the adhesive applied to the box-engaging faces of the tabs and wrapper does not, particularly in the operation of a gluing machine, reach the edges of the wrapper adjacent the tabs or extend full up to the edges of the tabs, with the result that dry or uncoated spots or areas occur upon the wrap or where adhesive is most needed in the ox-wrapping operation. A further disadvantage arises from the fact that the tabs, particularly in the operation of an adhesive-applying machine, sometimes become loosened from the wrapper during the application of adhesive to the wrapper and the previously applied tabs.

In accordance with my invention, both operations of applying reinforcing elements or tabs to the individual Wrapper, and of coating the box-engaging faces of the wrapper and tabs with adhesive, are performed just prior to the application of the tabbed wrappers to the box or unstayed box blank and before drying or setting of the adhesive which holds the tabs to the wrapper, with the result that the wrapper and tabs do not warp or curl, and are soft and pliable during the application of wrapper and tabs to the box or unstayed box blank, both when my method and the operations are performed manually, or by automatic mechanism or partly manually and partly by automatic mechanism; and there is the further advantage that tabs of relatively great thickness and strength may be used.

My method is further of advantage as regards its use 1n or by machines, in that a machine, such, for example, as of the char acter disclosed in Nitsch et al. application Serial No. 69,249, file'd November 16, 1925, for applying adhesive to the individual wrappers before or after application of the tabs thereto need not be supplied with special mechanism incident to the prior practice above described; a special or separate tabbmg machine is-110t required,'and the handlingand storage of tabbed wrappers are avoided by associating with a system comprising an adhesive-applying ma chine, wrapper and box-blank feeding and conveying mechanism and wrapping machine, such, for example, as disclosed in Federwltz et al. application Serial No. 40,769, filed July 1, 1925, simple mechanism or applying tabs to the wrappers in succession either at or in the adhesive-applying machine, or by associating tabbing mechanism with the feeding and conveying mechanism to apply tabs to the wrappers during their travel from the adhesive-applying machine to the wrapping machine, and preferably during a pause in the progress to the wra ping machine.

y invention 'comprehends the application of tabs. of paper, 'cloth or other suitable material, including equivalent reinforcing elements, strips or sheets, to individual wrappers, and like individual sheets of paper or equivalent, including labels, and the application of the tabbed wrappers, prior y to the setting, drying or hardening of the adhesive which holds the tabs to the wrappers, to boxes, of paper, pasteboard or other material, including open and closed cartons, containers, or boxes previously formed or stayed. and particularly unstayed boxes or box blanks.

By way of several examples of my invention. there is herein described the tabbing of wrappers and their application, prior to the hardening, drying or setting of the adhesive which holds the tabs to the wrappers or while the wrappers and tabs are soft and pliable, to unstayed boxes or box blanks for simultaneously wrapping and staying them.

The preferred species of the several'methods of preparing wrappers herein particularly described is illustrated by Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive.

Fig. 1 representsa stack of separate or individual, notched or corner-cut wrapper W of any suitable form, each consisting of a single sheet of paperor equivalent material, or as disclosed in prior patent to myself and another, No. 1,265,273, May 7, 1918, and in my co-pending application Serial No. 89,127, filed Feb. 18, 1926, cons sting of a composite Wrapper comprising a 120 plurality of component elements secured to each other.

Each wrapper comprises the end sections S and the side sections S the latter com- 125 prising the turn-in flaps I.

Each wrapper is first coated on the boxengaging face thereof with glue or equivalent adhesive, yielding, as indicated in Fig. 2, a coated wrapper We, the application of the adhesive being made while the wrapper isstill in. the stack, Fig. 1, or, and preferably, after removal from the stack.

Thereafter, as indicated 1n F1g. 3, one or more tabs T, of any suitable material, of any suitable form and size, is or are apphed to that portion or portions of the coated wrap per '0 destined to come into engagement with the edges, corners or other portions of the box to be'reinforced or stayed; and particularly at the regions of union of the wrapper sections S and the integral turn-1n flaps I. In the example illustrated, both sides of the tabs T are free of adhesive, the adhesive coated upon the wrapper W0 serving to secure the tabs. It will be understood, however, that the wrapper-engaging faces of the tabs T may be coated with adhesive before application to the coated wrapper W0, though it is preferred, and wlll ordinarily suflice, that the wrapper-engaging faces of the tabs be uncoated when applled to the coated wrapper.

As indicated, the tabs may be severed, as needed, from a ribbon or roll R, or may be first formed and piled in stacks S and withdrawn therefrom as and when required.

After the tabs have been so applied to the previously coated wrapper V0, the box-engaging surfaces of the tabs are coated wlth adhesive, yielding, as indicated 1n Fig. 4, a coated wrapper W0 with adhering coated tabs T0.

The tabbed wrapper has now been prepared for application to a box, and such application is made promptly while the coated wrapper W'c and its coated tabs T0 are softand pliable, and before the adhesive coatings upon the wrapper and tabs have dried, hardened or set. The box or unstayed box blank is then brought into register with the tabbed wrapper, and the coated faces of the wrapper and tabs are brought into adhering contact with the box faces, and in the case of an unstayed box blank, it is simultaneously brought to box form and wrapped and reinforced or stayed.

All the foregoing operations may be 'performed manually. Preferably, however, they will be performed by automatic mechanism. For example, the stack of wrappers V, Fig. 1, may be operated upon in an automatic adhesive-applying machine, such for example, as disclosed in the aforesaid Nitsch et al. application Serial No. 69,249, or in the adhesive-applying unit G of the aforesaid Federwitz and Bailey application Serial No.

40,769. The coated wrappers We may then" be tabbed by any suitable mechanism, including such, for example, as of the character disclosed in the aforesaid Letters Patent No. 1,060,026, or 1,451,782, or, and preferably, during pauses in their travel from the gluing machine G to the wrapping machine W, in a system such as disclosed in the aforesaid Federwitz et a1. application Serial No.

40,769, as by suitablemechanism associated with the conveyor or feeding unit C of that system. The tabbed wrappers may then be applied to the boxes or unstayed box blanks in any suitable wrapping machine, such as of the character disclosed in the. aforesaid Smith Patents 691,329 and 778,805, or the aforesaid Federwitz et al. Patent 1,541,036; or, and preferably, in a wrapping machine W of the aforesaid Federwitz et al. application Serial No. 40,769, to which they are fed in succession by the conveyer unit 0. In either case, in the wrap ing machine a tabbed wrapper and box or box blank B, Fig. 5, come into proper register-with each other in proper relation to the form block structure shown in broken lines in Fig. 5 and comprising the form blocks F and F operated as well understood in suitable timed relation by the usual rods f, f and 7.

Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive,illustrates thesuccessive stages, Fig. 10 showing the finished article, a wrapped and stayed box B. By the operations described, either manual or as performed by automatic mechanism, the wrapper flaps are applied to the box in suitable sequence, the tabs To being at suitable times applied to and worked around the box corners C.

In the wrapping operation heat may be applied, as disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 71,178, filed November 9 24, 1925, to set or to hasten setting or drying of the adhesive which holds the tabs to the wrapper and of the adhesive on the box;

engaging faces of the wrapper and tabs.

The preferred operation described is that of simultaneously wrapping and staying an unstayed box blank. It will be understood, however, that the box B may be previously formed or stayed when brought into register 'with the tabbed wrapper, which may then be applied, with simultaneous application of the tabs T0 to any. suitable corners or edges of the box structure, whether it be a. carton, open box, or closed box or container.

The above described procedure in preparing a tabbed blank may be varied by first applying adhesive to the box-engaging surfaces of the tabs, and thereafter applying the tabs to the coated wrapper W0, again yielding a coated wrapper W0 having thereto-adhering coated tabs Tc, as indicated in .the wra per is effectivel coated with adhesive w here most needed in the avoidance of dry or uncoated spots or areas which would otherwise occurin passing tabbed wrappers through an adhesive-applying machine.

methods of preparing a tabbed wrapper, the wrapper 7 may be coated with adhesive in spots or areas to which tabs are to be applied, tabs are then applied to such coated areas, and thereafter the remainder of the uncoated surface of the wrapper and the box-engaging surfaces of the tabs may be coated with adhesive.

A further modification of my method of preparing a tabbed blank is illustrated-by igs. 11-13. The uncoated wrappers W are withdrawn in succession from a stack, Fig. 11, and each first has applied thereto,

by adhesive, the tabs '1, yeildin as indi-- cated in F 12, an uncoated tab edwraper. Thereafter, adhesive is applied the the ox-engaging surfaces of the Wrapper' and of the tabs, a 'ain'yielding a coated wrapper We having adhering thereto coated tabs T0, as in Fig. 4. In this procedure, however, particularly when passing the uncoated tabbed wrapper of Fig. 12 through an adhesive-applying machine, the adhesive may not thoroughly cover the wrapper, particularly in the areas adjacent its edges and the edges of the tabs, unless the tabs be of quite thin paper, muslin or the like.

While in Figs. 3, etc., four tabs are shown, it will be understood that my invention comprehends the application of one br any suitable number of tabs. It will be understood further that tabs or reinforcing elements or strips other than or in addition to those for reinforcing corners or edges of a carton, container, box or unstayed box blank at which two or more faces meet or intersect may similarly be applied to a wrapper. For example, as generically indicated in Fig. 14, the tabbed wra per, comprising the coated wrapper W0 with thereto adhering coated tabs To, has adhering thereto, as applied by the methods described, the coated reinforcing tabs or strips T0 suitably positioned for any purpose, as, for example, for staying or reinforcing the bottom end corners, as Ce, Fig. 10. In addition to these tabs T0 or when they are omitted, coated tabs T0 similarly applied and treated in accordance with the methods described in connection with the tabs Tc, may be applied at the edges of the end flaps of the wrapper, which when applied will embrace the top edges of the box ends, to strengthen or reinforce them.

The operations described in connection with Figs. 11 to 14, inclusive, may all be performed by hand, including the subsequent application of the wrappers to boxes or the like or to unstayed box blanks. It will be understood, however, that the method may be practiced by automatic machinery as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 10, inclusive, and particularly involving a system of the general, character disclosed As a further variant of the above described 1n the aforesaid Federwitz et a1. application Serial No.40,769 by utilizing in association either with the adhesive-applying machine G, or, and preferably, in association with the conveyor unit or mechanism 0, any suitable mechanism for applying to wrappers in succession tabs, either cut from a ribbon, as R, Fig.3, or taken in succession from a stack, as S, Fig. 3, the application of tabs to each successive wrapper preferably occurring while the wrapper is .under control of the conveying mechanism 0 and while at rest between successive movements of the wrapper in its journey from the adhesiveapplyip; machine G to the wrapping machine The adhesive utilized in accordance with my method may be of any suitable character, and maybe applied in any state suitable to its nature. Ordinarily the adhesive, as glue, is applied in plastic, fluid or liquid form or state suitable for spreading or coating itupon the wrapper and tabs. My

method includes also the application of water or other solvent to the coating of glue or other adhesive previously appLied to and dried upon the tabs or wrapper, the application of the solvent rendering the material adhesive just prior to the application of the tabbed wrapper to a box or the like and before the adhesive again dries or sets. For example, the wrapper-engaging faces of the tabs may have thereon a coat of dry glue or similar adhesive which is moistened and there y rendered adhesive just before application of a tab to a Wrapper. My method comprehends also the utilization of dry or powdered adhesive. material to the wrapper or tabs, with. application of heat or other agent, with or without application of pressure, to effect plasticity, adhesion and pliability at the required times.

For brevity in the appended claims, the term box is employed in a generic sense to include open and closed cartons, containers and boxes, and unstayed boxes or box blanks; the term wrapper is'employed in a generic sense to include individual simple and composite wrapping or covering sheets, covers or labels, of paper or other suitable material; the term tab is employed generically to include reinforcing elements, strips or sheets of paper, cloth or other suitable material of any suitable form, extent and thickness; the application of tabs to a wrapper or a tabbed wrapper to a box with adhesive and the application of adhesive to tabs and wrapper comprehends the use of material which at the time of aph'ardens or dries.

per, and thereafter, in either sequence, ap-

pl ing tabs to the coated wrapper before said a hesive sets, and coating the box-engaging faces of said tabs with adhesive before said first-named adhesive sets.

3. The method of preparing a tabbed wrapper, which comprises applying adhesive to a previously formed individual wrapper, thereafter applying tabs to the coated wrapper before said adhesive sets, and thereafter applying adhesive to the box-engaging faces of said tabs before said first-named adhesive sets.

4. The method of preparing a tabbed wrapper, which comprises adhesively applying tabs to an individual wrapper at the regions of union of wrapper sections and turnin flaps adapted subsequently to engage, respectively, with two box walls meeting in a corner, and before said adhesive sets the steps, in either sequence or simultaneously, of coating with adhesive the box-engaging faces of said wrapper and of said tabs.

5. The method of preparing a tabbed wrapper, which comprises adhesively applying tabs to an individual wrapper at the regions of union of wrapper sections and turn-in flaps adapted subsequently to engage, respectively, with two box walls meetlng 1n a corner, and before said adhesive sets coating with adhesive the box-engaging faces of said wrapper and of said tabs.

6. A tabbed wrapper comprising an individual wrapper having tabs held thereto by adhesive, and adhesive coatings on the box-engaging faces of said wrapper and of said -tabs, said adhesive and adhesive coatings being simultaneously fluid in preparation for application of the individual wrapper to a box before said adhesive and the adhesive coatings set.

7. A tabbed wrapper comprising an individual wrapper having tabs held thereto by adhesive in positions for application around the corners formed by intersecting sides of a box, and reinforcing elements held to said wrapper by adhesive in positions for application aroundthe corners formed by mtersectingbottom andsides of the box, and adhesive coatings upon the box-engaging faces of said wrapper, tabs and reinforcing elements, said adhesive and adhesive coatings being simultaneousl fluid in preparation for application to a ox before said ad- I hesive an coatings set.

8. A tabbed wrapper comprising an individual wrapper having tabs held thereto by adhesive in positions for application around the corners formed by interseetin s des of a box, and reinforcing elements hel to said wrapper by. adhesive and positioned thereon for application around the upper free edges of sides of the box, and adhesive coatings upon the box-engaging faces of said wrapper, tabs and reinforcing elements, said adhesive and adhesive coatings being simultaneously fluid in preparation for application to a box before said adhesive and coatin s set.

9. T e method of applying a tabbed wrapper to a box, which comprises applying tabs to an individual wrapper with adhesive, and while the tabs are soft or pliable as caused by said adhesive, applying the wrapper and tabs to a box.

10. The method of applying a tabbed wrapper to a box, which comprises applying tabs to an individual wrapper with adhesive,

and before said adhesive sets, substantially simultaneously applying sections of the Wrapper and tabs to o posite walls of a box.

11. The method of applyin a tabbed wrapper to an unstayed box b ank, which comprises applying tabs to an individual wrapper with adhesive, and while the tabs are soft or pliable as caused by said adhesive simultaneously wrapping and staying the box blank with said wrapper and tabs.

12. The method of applying a tabbed wrapper to an unstayed box blank,.which comprises applying tabs to an individual wrapper with adhesive, and before said adhesive sets substantially simultaneously applying sections of the wrapper and tabs to opposite walls of the box blank.

13. The method of applying a tabbed wrapper to a box, which comprises, in any -sequence, before setting of the adhesive, the

steps of applying tabs to an individual corner-cut wrapper with adhesive, applying adhesive to the box-engaging faces of said tabs, and applying adhesive to the box-engaging face of the wrapper, and before settlng of the adhesive applying the wrapper and tabs to a box.

14;. The method of applying a tabbed I pers to boxes,

taneously wrapping and staying the box and coating the box-engaging faces of said tabs with adhesive before said first-named adhesive sets, and before said first-named adhesive sets applying the wrappers and tabs to boxes in succession.

16. The method of applying tabbed wrappers to unstayed box blanks, which comprises transporting individual wrappers in succession, applying adhesive to each wrapper, thereafter, in either sequence, before setting of said adhesive, the steps of applying tabs to the wrappers, applying adhesive .to the box engaging faces of said tabs, and before the first-named adhesive sets simultaneously wrapping and staying the box blanks with said wrappers and said tabs.

17. The methodof applying tabbed wrappers to boxes, which comprises, withdrawing individual wrappers in succession from a stack thereof, thereafter, in any sequence, in stages substantially immediately succeeding each other, applying tabs to each wraper with adhesive, applying adhesivr to the ox-eng'aging faces of the tabs, and applying adhesive to the box-engaging face of each wrapper, and applying the tabbed wrappers 1n succession'to boxes in succession.

18. The method of applying a tabbed wrapper to a box, which comprises ap lying tabs to an individual wrapper with ad esive, and, beforejsaid adhesive sets, engaging a wrapper section with the box bottom, and thereafter appl ing the tabs and other wrapper sections su stantially simultaneously to opposite box walls.

19. The method of applying tabbed wrappers to boxes, which comprises transporting individual wrappers in succession, thereafter, in any sequence in stages substantially immediately succeeding each other, applying tabs to each wrapper with adhesive, applying adhesive to the box-engaging faces of the tabs and to the box-engaging face of each wrapper, and applying the tabbed wrappers in succession to the boxes in succession.

20. The method of applying a tabbed individual wrapper to a box, which comprises in any sequence the steps of applying tabs to an individual wrapper with adhesive, applying adhesive to the box-engaging faces of said wrapper and tabs, and, before setting of the last-mentioned adhesive, engaging a wrapper section with a box bottom and substantlally simultaneously applying other wrapper sections and the tabs to opposite box walls.

JOHN S. STOKES. 

